🐎 Horse-Shaped GPS Art Course Around Naminoue Shrine 🗻
This 10km GPS art course invites you to draw the shape of a horse as you explore the scenic and culturally rich surroundings of Naminoue Shrine in Naha, Okinawa. Standing dramatically atop seaside cliffs, Naminoue Shrine has long been revered as a guardian of the seas and a protector for travelers and local fishermen. It is also historically associated with Juri-uma, a traditional performing art once counted among Naha’s three great festivals.
Juri-uma, performed on the 20th day of the lunar New Year, features beautifully dressed juri—women once associated with the historic pleasure quarters—parading through town with wooden horse-head boards tucked into their sashes. As they chant “Yui, yui,” they reenact a tale said to originate in the Ryukyu Kingdom era: young women who longed to see their fathers created the procession so they might blend into the crowd and catch a glimpse of them once a year. Over time, the event transformed into a celebration praying for prosperous business. Although it ceased in 1989, it was revived in 2000 and continues today as a cherished cultural tradition.
The course carries you from Naminoue Shrine to the breezy shores of Naminoue Beach, then through the working waterfront of Naha Port. You’ll continue past Gokoku-ji Temple—one of Okinawa’s significant historic temples—before reaching the Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum, dedicated to preserving the memories of wartime tragedy. The course then leads you to the serene and meticulously designed Fukushūen Garden, and finally to Sanmonju Park, a green oasis tucked within the cityscape.
Along the way, you’ll experience the unique blend of maritime scenery, layered history, and vibrant urban culture that defines Naha. This GPS art course offers not only a refreshing 10km walk but also a heartfelt encounter with the island’s traditions. Let the sea breeze guide your steps as you sketch the shape of a horse to welcome a meaningful New Year.
DETAIL (EXTERNAL LINK)
A PIONEER IN GPS ART.
1st work was authorized by Guinness World Records as “the Largest GPS Drawing”.
He is the only Japanese person to be featured in a Google documentary as an innovator. He is fascinated by the idea of drawing with GPS and has published more than 2,500 works.
